View source for Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Batangas City)

{{Short description|Roman Catholic church in Batangas, Philippines}}
{{for|the cathedral-basilica dedicated to the Immaculate Conception in Manila|Manila Cathedral}}
{{Use Philippine English|date=March 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox church
| name                   = Immaculate Conception Minor Basilica
| fullname               = Minor Basilica and Parish of the Immaculate Conception
| other name             = Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño ng Batangan
| native_name            = {{unbulleted list|{{native name|es|Basílica Menor de la Inmaculada Concepción}}|{{native name|fil|Basilika Menor ng Kalinislinisang Paglilihi at Arkidiyosesanong Dambana ni Santo Niño ng Batangan}}}}
| image                  = Batangas City Basilica 2024-03-27.jpg
| caption                = Basilica [[facade]] in March 2024
| pushpin map            = Luzon mainland#Philippines
| pushpin label position = left
| pushpin map alt        =
| map caption            = Location in [[Luzon]]##Location in the Philippines
| coordinates            = {{coord|13.754073|N|121.059227|E|dim:30_region:PH-00_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}}
| location               = [[Batangas City]], [[Batangas]]
| country                = Philippines
| denomination           = [[Roman Catholic]]
| website                =
| founded date           = 1614
| founder                =
| dedication             = [[Immaculate Conception]]
| dedicated date         =
| consecrated date       = February 2, 1857<ref name=":4" />
| status                 = [[Minor Basilica]]
| functional status      = Active
| heritage designation   =
| designated date        =
| architect              =
| architectural type     = [[Church building]]
| style                  = [[Neo-classical architecture|Neo-classical]]
| groundbreaking         = 1851
| completed date         = February 2, 1857<ref name=":4" />
| demolished date        =
| dome quantity          = 1
| tower quantity         = 1
| spire quantity         =
| materials              = Adobe and wood
| deanery                = Immaculate Conception<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Batangas City, Batangas, Philippines |url=http://gcatholic.org/churches/asia/0643.htm |website=GCatholic.org |access-date=April 27, 2023}}</ref>
| episcopalarea          =
| archdiocese            = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa|Lipa]]
| province               = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa|Lipa]]
| metropolis             = [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa|Lipa]]
| diocese                =
| district               =
| archbishop             = <!-- cathedrals only -->
| bishop                 =
| rector                 = Angel Marcelo M. Pastor
| priest                 =
| asstpriest             =
| logo                   =
| logosize               =
| logolink               =
| logoalt                =
| length                = {{cvt|71.35|m|ft}}
| width                 = {{cvt|14.27|m|ft}}
}}
The '''Minor Basilica and Parish of the Immaculate Conception''', alternatively known as the '''Archdiocesan Shrine of Santo Niño de Batangan''', is a [[minor basilica]] in [[Batangas City]], [[Philippines]]. It is under the jurisdiction of the [[Archdiocese of Lipa]]. It was made an independent parish in 1614 under the advocation of the Immaculate Conception.<ref name="Batangas City">{{Cite book |last=Galende |first=Pedro G. |title=Angels in Stone: Architecture of the Augustinian Churches in the Philippines |date=1987 |publisher=G. A. Formoso |edition=1st |location=Manila |pages=80–83}}</ref> It is one of the oldest churches in Batangas.<ref name="earthquake" />
==History==
===Earlier churches===
[[Catholic priest]] Diego de Mojica was said to have constructed the first temporary church made of light materials in 1578. The church was put under the title of the Immaculate Conception.<ref name="Batangas City" /> The church was burned down by the fire that gutted the whole town in 1615.
In 1686, Jose Rodriguez began laying the new foundation of a new church made of stone. The main [[nave]] was finished in the same year with the help of Manuel del Buensuceso and the townspeople. Jose de San Bartolome completed the transept made of reef stone on 1706,<ref name="Batangas City" /> and it was blessed in 1721. The church was gutted by fire again after a lightning bolt in 1747 and was repaired in 1756 during the time of Don Ramon Orendain.
===Present church===
[[File:Basilika Menor ng Inmaculada Concepcion historical marker.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.8|Church [[National Historical Institute|NHI]] historical marker installed in 1984]]
The former Father Provincial, Pedro Cuesta, demolished the old church which he found too small for the increasing population of the town and started the construction of the new one on the same site in 1851.<ref name="Batangas City" /> He also built the strong fence of the atrium to enclose the church and convent. The church was damaged by earthquake in 1863 and repaired and reinforced with walls and buttresses. After the roof fell in 1880, it was repaired in 1884 by Bruno Laredo.<ref name="Biyahero">{{Cite web |title=Batangas City |url=http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=29&sobi2Id=1263&Itemid=56 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200529/http://biyahero.net/index.php?option=com_sobi2&sobi2Task=sobi2Details&catid=29&sobi2Id=1263&Itemid=56 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 |access-date=May 25, 2014 |website=Biyahero: Philippine Travel Portal}}</ref> The convent built in 1693, of reef stone and huge [[molave (disambiguation)#Plants|molave]] post withstood all the earthquakes until Melchor Fernández constructed a new one in 1792.<ref name="Batangas City" /> It was later used as a school building by the Saint Bridget College. Later on, the second floor of the convent was demolished and was converted into a parish pastoral hall.
The church has undergone several restorations. The second and third stories of the belfry was completed in 1934. In 1936, the old windows were changed and 23 chandeliers were added. The façade collapsed during the April 8, 1942, earthquake and was repaired between 1945 and 1946.<ref name="Biyahero" /> In 1954, the exterior was painted with general repairs in 1957. The exterior was beautified and the [[frescoes]] were retouched on the occasion of the centennial celebration.<ref name="Batangas City" />
===Minor basilica and contemporary history===
On February 13, 1948, the church was declared a [[minor basilica]] of the Immaculate Conception. The declaration was made upon the request of Lipa's bishop, [[Alfredo Verzosa]].<ref name="Batangas City" />
The church temporarily closed to the public on April 8, 2017, after [[2017 Batangas earthquakes|a series of earthquakes]] caused minor damage to the basilica, including the [[Taal Basilica]].<ref name="earthquake">{{Cite news|title=Batangas basilica temporarily closed due to quake damage |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/batangas-basilica-temporarily-closed-due-to-quake-damage/ |work=CBCP News |date=April 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref> It reopened on December 2 after eight months of repairs.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Basilica Menor De La Inmaculada Concepcion |url=https://www.batangascity.gov.ph/web/current-news/1721-basilica-menor-de-la-inmaculada-concepcion |website=Batangas City Government |date=December 3, 2017 |access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
On January 16, 2022, the basilica was also declared as the archdiocesan shrine of Santo Niño de Batangan.<ref>{{Cite news|title=2 Holy Child Shrines declared on Santo Niño feast |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/2-holy-child-shrines-declared-on-santo-nino-feast/ |work=CBCP News |first=Kendrick Ivan B. |last=Panganiban |date=January 17, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
===Ivory image of La Inmaculada Concepcion de Batangan===
The devotion to La Inmaculada Concepcion de Batangan, also known as La Batangueña, dates back to 1581 when the parish dedicated to her was established. In 1868, her image was enshrined, and miracles have been attributed to her intercession. It was elevated to a minor basilica in 1948, the second in the country. In 2018, the image received episcopal coronation, and in 2022, Pope Francis granted the [[Canonical coronation|pontifical coronation]], both on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Vatican grants pontifical coronation of Batangas Marian image |url=https://cbcpnews.net/cbcpnews/vatican-grants-pontifical-coronation-of-batangas-marian-image/ |work=CBCP News |first=Kendrick Ivan B. |last=Panganiban |date=April 23, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
===Devotion to the black Santo Niño de Batangan===
[[File:Sto. Niño de Batangan 2024-06-29.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The famous black Santo Niño de Batangan]]
The black image of Santo Niño de Batangan is that of black image of the Child Jesus which is said to be a replica of the famed image of [[Santo Niño de Cebu]]. The image is standing on a base, wears a set of metal vestments: a metal dress and a butterfly-styled cape. The image also sports a crown, holding a globus cruciger and his left hand is in gesture of blessing.
==Architecture==
The basilica was designed with a robust exterior in response to the threat posed by the destructive forces of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and typhoon winds. Its {{convert|1.5|m|ft|sp=us|adj=mid|-thick}} walls, are supported by three massive [[buttress]]es on each side.<ref name=":4" />
It also sports an octagonal [[Belfry (architecture)|belfry]] adjacent to the basilica. Underneath it is the [[baptistery]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Sculpted illusions at the Basilica Minor of Immaculate Conception in Batangas |date=March 5, 2018 |first=Judith |last=Torres |url=https://bluprint.onemega.com/basilica-immaculate-conception-batangas/ |work=BluPrint |access-date=April 6, 2023}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception8.JPG|Church interior in 2014
File:Batangas City Basilica dome 2023-04-05.jpg|[[Dome]]
File:Batangas City Basilica dome interior 2023-04-05.jpg|Dome interior
File:Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception Batangas altar 2023-04-05.jpg|The altar with the Immaculate Conception [[Passiontide|veiled for Holy Week]]
File:Batangas City Basilica central nave interior facing exit 2023-04-05.jpg|Central nave facing towards the exit
File:La Inmaculada Concepción de Ciudad de Batangas 2024-06-29.jpg|The venerated ivory image of the Virgin of [[Immaculate Conception]]
</gallery>
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Facebook|BasilicaBatangasCity}}
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Immaculate Conception Minor Basilica}}
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Batangas]]
[[Category:Basilica churches in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Marked Historical Structures of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Historic sites in the Philippines]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Batangas City]]
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches completed in 1857]]
[[Category:Churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lipa]]
[[Category:19th-century religious buildings and structures in the Philippines]]